Ten tactics to improve your GC game

Master these tactics and your results will improve against those who don't think tactically.

Lesson 1: How to Practice

Listen to all the advice, make up your own mind, and put in thirty minutes of serious practice. It beats an afternoon of casual play.

Lesson 2: The V (Play Safe, Play Short)

The zone of opportunity in front of the hoop, and why short beats long when you can't be sure.

Lesson 3: Protecting the Hoop (Put the Problem Back)

When you can't win the hoop this turn, make it your opponent's problem instead.

Lesson 4: Can I Run the Hoop? The Decision Tree

The question every turn starts with. If the answer is no, which ball do you clear? Hit the last ball in, and clear far enough.

Lesson 5: Position Shots

Two-thirds of all the shots you'll play. The bread and butter of golf croquet.

Lesson 6: Mind Games (Decoy Balls and Sucker Balls)

Making your opponent play the wrong ball.

Lesson 7: Stop Shots

Hit it straight in and you stay, they go. The full demonstration.

Lesson 8: Stymies

Just kiss the ball.

Lesson 9: Jawsing (Two Hoops in a Row)

Park the ball in the jaws and the hoop is all but yours, plus first ball to the next one.

Lesson 10: First-Hoop Placements

Where every ball goes at hoop one: the control ball, go long rather than short, and the standard red spot.

The full series is also on CroquetVideos.